Jones Von Howell Jr., 90, of Newport Beach, California passed away August 31, 2021.
Known to his family and friends as JV, he was born on February 26, 1931, in Burnsville, NC to Jones and Mary Howell. JV graduated from Mars Hill HS where he excelled in mathematics, sciences as well as being an avid athlete playing baseball, football, basketball, and tennis. JV attended Davidson College receiving a B.S. in Physics and then attending North Carolina State where he received his M.S. in Applied Mathematics. In his adult years, JV volunteered as a Big Brother for the Big Brother organization and the Oasis Senior Center helping seniors with tax returns.
JV’s career does not go without merit. His innovative designs in the computer data storage industry resulted in numerous US patents in his name as well as receiving global recognition. He was an early participant and founder of such companies as Scientific Data Systems, Recor, Century Data Systems, Archive Corporation and made significant technical contributions to international standards organizations such as ANSI.
JV was a lover of ideas, a knowledge seeker, and an adventurer. This was the gift he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He loved to learn, he loved to try new things and he loved to help others whether it was a new language, genealogy, water skiing, snow skiing, bicycling, sailing, marathons, climbing Mount Whitney or a scientific exploration to Antarctica.
JV lost his beloved wife of 64 years, Earlene Howell on May 17, 2015. After Earlene’s passing and, in her honor, he volunteered for the Free Wheelchair Mission making several trips to South America assembling and distributing wheelchairs to those in need.
JV is survived by his loving daughters. Sandy Sanders, Joni Marchese and Beth Horne, his grandchildren, Brett Sanders, CJ Sanders, Ali Holder, Addison Marchese, Chase Marchese, Curran Horne, Karly Horne, and Trever Horne, his great grandchildren, Hailey Holder, Charlotte Holder & Rowan Horne.
JV was a remarkable man, kind, caring, strong, intelligent and in his later years was so very gracious. He lived a full and long life and will surely be missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jones’ memory may be made to Free Wheel Chair Mission, https://www.freewheelchairmission.org.